Dead & Company to Donate $100,000 to the Fight Against North Carolina's HB2 Bill

Dead & Company, the ongoing offshoot of the late Grateful Dead, have posted a statement saying that they are going ahead with their June 10 show in Charlotte, NC but will be donating $100,000 to organizations fighting the state's HB2 bill.

The bill was a state legislature reaction to the city of Charlotte allowing transgendered individuals to use the rest room of their choice, overruling that ordinance with the requirement that people use the facilities of the gender on their birth certificate.

The $100,000 will be donated to the Human Rights Campaign and Equality North Carolina. The band will also be setting up a special area at their concerts where groups fighting for equality, promoting voter registration and protecting the environment can set up displays.

The band's full statement:

This March, when North Carolina lawmakers passed HB2 and Governor Pat McCrory signed it into law, we categorically objected to it. We had hoped that by now this abhorrent law would have been repealed. Sadly, it has not.

After much thought, consideration and conversation, we feel the most effective way to move forward is to perform as scheduled in Charlotte, North Carolina on June 10 and to donate $100,000.00 to organizations engaged in this battle for justice – the Human Rights Campaign and Equality North Carolina.

Additionally, we will assemble a "Participation Row" social action area, where we'll host local organizations fighting discrimination and national organizations dedicated to voter registration and protecting the planet. Every fan in attendance will have an opportunity to learn about the true ramifications of the HB2 law, and take meaningful action by registering to vote; to that end we are working on an online community registration site that will assist the HeadCount organization in promoting and simplifying voter registration.

Dead shows have always been a safe place for all of our audience to come together through music no matter how they appear or self-identify. History shows these values of openness and inclusiveness have served us - and the world around us - well.

We’ve never been a band that’s spoken many words when we’re on stage. But we hope that our actions, and the actions of our fans, will ring louder than ever before.